CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

God made Man in His Image and equipped the Christian with His Holy Spirit to live in the Spiritual

world (Christ’s Kingdom).

Used In Different Ways in the Bible:Things - 1 John 2:15People - John 3:16

THE WORLD SYSTEMKOSMOS

[Greek]WORLD

The Christian is a member of two worlds; The physical world around us was Created by God

but Satan became its prince or god when man (Adam) sinned in the Garden.

Lost People are enslaved by the world system that Satan rules. (II Cor. 4:4)

II Corinthians 4:4

The god of this age (This Time Period in the world) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.

These basic verses pretty well sum up the tension that each Christian experiences.

1. We are warned to not get too involved in the things of this world.

2. God has provided His Grace to save us through Jesus.

3. Satan uses the things of this world to tempt us to stray away from and not depend upon God but our selves.

I John 2: 15

Do not love the (things of the) world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

John 3: 16

For God so loved the (people of the) world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes (trusts) in Him shall not perish (go to eternal Hell) but have eternal life (in Heaven.)

World #1:Under Satan

Kingdom of DarknessThe Natural Man; Lives for SelfGratify the Flesh, Blinded to TruthSlave of Satan and SinBelieves the Bible is FoolishUnfulfilled Hope, Live for NowTemporary; Will Pass AwayBroad Road Leads to Eternal HELL

Physical Birth

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who

don’t believe.” II Corinthians 4:4

“For the wages of sin is eternal death, but the free gift of God

(Grace) is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“My old self has been crucified with Christ.” Galatians 2:20

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ

was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now

we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with Him in His

death, we will also be raised to life as He was” Romans 6:4-5

OrOr

Kingdom of GodThe True Church

Under Christ

The Spiritual Man; Christ RulesKingdom of LightPeople Know the Truth Set Free from Penalty and Power of SinStudies and Trusts the BibleIncludes much Love, Joy and PeaceEnjoy Eternal HopeEternal; Will Never Pass AwayLeads to Eternal Heaven

“For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.” Colossians 1: 13

“…Anyone who belongs to Christ, has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” II Corinthians 5:17

We have now two worlds before us, the old and the new. In the old, Satan has absolute dominion. You may be a good man in the old creation, but as long as you belong to the old you are under sentence of death, because nothing of the old can be carried over to the new.

The Normal Christian Life, page 62. By Watchman Nee

The Cross is God’s declaration that all that is of the old creation must die. Nothing of the First Adam can pass beyond the Cross; it all ends there. The sooner we see that, the better, for it is by the Cross that God has made a way of escape for us from that old creation.

Since Adam’s Sin[The Fall of Man]

The World has Hated God!!

1 Corinthians 1:21 - Knew Not GodJohn 15:18 - Hated ChristJames 4:4 - Enemy of God

Lost People of the World, under Satan Do Not Like God, The Church, or Christians

John 15: 18

John 15: 18

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first (the world system executed Christ.)

Satan will use the things of this world to draw you away from Christ. Be Very Careful!

Keep Yourselves from False Gods[Idols]

An Idol is [Anything that Occupies God’s Place

In Your Heart - Takes First Place

In Your Life]

Matthew 16:26

I love My Money

I John 5: 21

I John 5: 21

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Matthew 16: 26

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?

An idol is anything that is considered more important than God. This usually is in the form of some physical (or worldly) object (such as a car, money, a person, peer acceptance, etc.)

Would it be worth owning everything in this world if you lost heaven?

Christians are Not to be OF the World

EKKLESIA (Greek)God’s Called Out Ones - Church

God has set us aside from the World as a separated people toreflect His Character to the blinded slaves of Satan.

John 15: 19

John 15: 19

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

This earthly life is very temporary. We are really residences of two worlds – Satan’s and Christ’s Kingdom. Now is the time to lay up eternal treasure. Though you will draw the hatred of this world upon you, it will be eternally worth it.

Christians Stay In the World To

HelpOthers

Were you drawn to God through the witness of another?.

Matthew 5: 14 - 16

Why didn’t God take the Christian to Heaven immediatelyafter being saved?

He has chosen to limit His work on Earth to the work He

does through yielded Christians.

Matthew 5: 14 – 16

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The purpose of light is to dispel darkness. God has placed a radiance in each Christian so that they may dispel the darkness of this world

John 17: 14 – 19

I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Sanctification is being set aside from the world and maturing in Christ. All Christians should be in the process of being sanctified on a daily basis.

Christians are Not to Fear The World;

Christ Has Overcome theWorld for Us.

JESUS HAS POWER OVER SATAN.1 John 4:4 States that He who Lives in Us is Greater than he that lives in the World

Ephesians 6: 10 - 18 Instruct Us to put on the Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-17 Ephesians 6:10-17

Shield of FaithShield of Faith Breastplate of RighteousnessBreastplate of Righteousness

Belt of TruthBelt of Truth

Sword of the SpiritSword of the Spirit

Shoes of the Good News of Peace

Shoes of the Good News of Peace

Helmet of SalvationHelmet of Salvation

Christians Are NotTo Be Weighted Down

Or Entangled in the CaresAffairs, Business of THIS Life.

Hebrews 12:1Luke 21:34

Dr. Luke quotes Jesus as he tells us not to get involved with worldly cares and affairs.

Anything that distracts us from a constant vigil of anticipation of Jesus’ return is a hindrance to our spiritual life.

Hebrews 12: 1

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We Christians must remain constantly vigilant else the evil one (Satan) will ensnare us with temporary worldly rewards.

Luke 21: 34

Be careful or your hearts will be weighted down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life (excess baggage), and that day will close in on you unrepentantly like a trap.

At Which Altar Will You Serve ?

Man CannotServe at Both !!

Luke 16:13

Too Many Christians try to be of the World and please GodJoshua 24:15 Exhorts the Israelites to Choose Who they will Serve

Joshua 24: 15

Altar of the World

Altar of the World

Altar of God

Altar of God

Joshua 24: 15

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

It is our natural inclination to serve someone or something.

We must make a deliberate choice about who we will serve

Luke 16: 13

No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t be slaves to both God and mammon (worldly riches).

DO NOTLOVE

MONEY;Be Content.

Do Not Pursue Riches

1 Timothy 6:7 - 10

Christians are not to be occupied just trying to gain more wealth

Greed for riches is an indication of little or no faith that our Heavenly Father will fulfill His promise to provide all of our needs.

God Is PleasedIf We Share

Our Possessions

1 John 3:17 - 19

He wants Us to Depend Upon Him rather than our Self and the World

I John 3: 17 – 19

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence.

ASSIGNMENT:

Continue daily Bible study and prayer. Pray for your government leaders and

folk you know that are spiritually blinded by the evil one. Pray for the person(s)

you performed the kind deeds for. Include your family members in your prayers (this is intercessory prayer)